Stagecoach Stout - Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.49/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Dipping their toe into the Brittish inspired Oatmeal Stout recipe, this Cali-brewed dark ale is dense with smoky chocolate goodness, marshmallowy texture, and a firm whack of coffee that's dry and creamy all at once.

Dark, bark-brown in its color, Stagecoach pours with a deep creamy structure that builds upon a frothy base underneath and a sandy foam crown above. Strong staying power and medium islands of lace give the beer a look that even the English would pride.

Strong dark roast elements of Kona blend coffee, roasted barley, burnt brown sugar, and a tinge of smoke and chocolate swirl about the nose and ushers in a creamy-dry taste that's lighter on the palate than its taste would suggest. Its light grainy sweetness is slightly carmelly early but turns earthen with burnt wood and nuts in the middle before the bitter coffee ground astringency settles in late.

Dry and somewhat arid on the mouth, the sharp hop bitterness couples with the roast grain for a mild powdery feel that zaps the mouth with smoky dryness. While the oat richness balances the roast well, I would prefer more oat character for added smoothness and roundness.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:46:47 | More by BEERchitect

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.11/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: Poured black with good carbonation providing a nice tan cap with good head retention, bubbles and moderate lacing clinging to the sides of the glass

S: Pretty much what you expect. Oats, with some milk chocolate, light coffee darts in and out.

T: An immediate astringency with a underlying sordove green pre-funk going on, this beer is tasting and feeling a bit young, perhaps rushed, gassy at times. A burnt roastiness appears upfront with a pine needle hop presence, black patent like malt bitterness. Oats and cocoa seem to be a bit buried under the flaws I find in this beer. The finish is a bit astringent, lingering bitterness, cocoa and somewhat dry.

M: Light-medium to medium bodied, perhaps a tad bit overcarbed and/or young. Lingering bitterness is a bit much for the style

O: Not overly bad but it could stand some improvements.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 03:00:05 | More by barleywinefiend

InlandTaipan

California

4.31/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brought a bottle back to MD from a trip to Santa Barbara.

A: Beautiful deep jet color with a off white frothy head.

S: Smells of roasted malts, bread, and oatmeal.

T: Delicious. Perfect balance of dark malt harshness and other supplemental malts. Faint hints of cream.

M: Velvety and rich. a great combination

O: This is must try for anyone living in the Southern Ca. region

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 22:39:38 | More by InlandTaipan

mactrail

California

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A mild and thoroughly black brew. Pleasantly sudsy in the mouth. Nice light beige head on the nearly opaque beer in the Duvel tulip. Not much aroma.

Just a touch of the sour charcoal flavor. A pleasant quaff, though undistinguished. I find myself drinking most of the damn bottle trying to find any distinct flavors. Finally there is some winey taste with the tannic touch and the dark roast malt. A little sweetness remains, and a hint of chocolate, so it's not bone dry. I think I would look for this on tap as a pleasantly old-school pint.

Found this and a couple others at Best Damn in San Diego in 22 oz bottles. I took the photo.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:23:30 | More by mactrail

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cola color with a tight tan head that leaves little bits of lacing.

Smells of coffee and roasted notes.

Tastes of the roasted notes with a slight sweetness. Coffee and cocoa notes lead off with a slightly burnt overtone. Slight roasted and earthy bitterness comes through. Mild brown sugar sweetness comes through along with some of the oatmeal. I also pick up dark fruit notes as it warms which complements some of the sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium-full with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is a good oatmeal stout, but is not quite cost efficient ($9 a bomber).

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 00:40:02 | More by ocelot2500

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, coffee, and slight cocoa aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 23:52:13 | More by UCLABrewN84

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle expertly smuggled cross country by my brother, thanks for the opportunity.
Pours the darkest shade of brown with faint wisps of garnet highlights on the edges. A creamy beige head rises upon first pour but falls to a cap rather quickly. Sweet sugary malt mixed with caramel chocolate and roast waft out of the glass in waves toward my nostrils. My taste buds become enthralled with waves of flavor starting with earthy caramel and brown sugar, segue into chocolate and roasted grains, followed by hints of dark fruits and earthy hops and finishing with a long lingering roast. Medium to thick body with a light level of carbonation and silky creamy mouthfeel. WOW is what I said after the first sip and now I'm trying to figure out why I haven't heard of this brewery before. This is a great example of a well crafted oatmeal stout!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 00:48:33 | More by johnnnniee

amcmaho1

New Mexico

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received as an extra from Tieman. Thanks again Dan!

Poured into Jester King tulip glass...

Appearance: Classic, deep, and opaque obsidian color. Small mocha colored head. Very attractive stout.

Smell: Lots of cocoa, coffee, some smoke, nice roasted notes, I get a little brown sugar, and the slightest hop presence.

Taste: Great roasted malt and smokiness right away, followed by coffee, chocolate, hops, and a bit of an astringency (certainly not overly deterring though, but there regardless). There are some subdued sweet notes on the finish, but they seem tame thanks to the coffee and roast flavors. Really nicely integrated stout, everything is working together.

Mouthfeel: Really nice, mellow carbonation. The body of the beer isn't thin and isn't overly viscous; it's really at a great moderate body. I keep coming back to the term 'classic' to describe this beer. It seems to epitomize the style, and allows for a very enjoyable and easy drinking experience.

Overall: A wonderfully executed stout. I would gladly have this again. I was lucky enough to try this brewery's "Hoppy Poppy" along side this (thanks again Dan), and am really impressed with Figueroa Mountain's offerings.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 01:28:49 | More by amcmaho1

Wowcoolman

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice oatmeal stout that won a Bronze at the 2011 GABF. Pours a dark brown cola color with a light tan head; some lacing clings to the glass. Pleasant aromas of roasted malts, smoked almonds, coffee and oats. The taste is full-flavored for it's 5.6% abv. Roasted nuts, cola, coffee, and some gently bittering cocoa on the finish. Oats add to a pleasant creaminess in the mouth. I've tried this beer on-tap at the brewery but preferred this bottled version. Big tasting and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 06:16:01 | More by Wowcoolman

womencantsail

California

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sharing this, Javi.

Pours dark brown in color with a finger of khaki head. A strong roasted malt aroma with a touch of smoke and char. There is a little bit of coffee grounds in there and a hint of dark chocolate. The flavor is more of the same. Lots of coffee grounds and heavily roasted malt. An almost charred flavor with a hint of smoke and coffee. Light in body with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 22:08:19 | More by womencantsail

newsage

California

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another good oatmeal stout. Nice appearance, wonderful smell, awesome taste, hits of chocolate coffee light oak very nice. Not the best oatmeal stout in the world but worth picking up if you have the chance. A Top Ten Stout!!! And that says a lot because I love stouts! Eat Drink and be Merry!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 22:04:18 | More by newsage

Retsinis

California

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Light black, with a brown hue, clean lacing that is mildly sticky.

S: Scents of medium roasted coffee, light cacao dark choclate, and some grain.

T: Mirrors the nose, also roasted malt, mild cream, touch of light vanilla, and grains.

M: Light carbonation, semi sweet, light dryness on the finish.

O: Quite good, and my favorite of all the Figueroa mountain beers. It reminds me of Velvet Merlin a bit, being it's an oatmeal stout, and about the same in ABV. They don't taste the same per se, but this has a similiar degree of complexity, but is still a low abv beer, and not a dry irish stout either. Well done.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2011 22:21:10 | More by Retsinis